Gareth Southgate

[Bentley Bullet]

I think the stress of watching the team we support often makes it appear they are performing worse than they are when, in reality, it is just a case of them not being as dominant as we want them to be.

[Pancho Regan]

I think the stress of watching the team we support often makes it appear they are performing worse than they are when, in reality, it is just a case of them not being as dominant as we want them to be.

Yep, I think you’re right there BB

[RoversInSpain]

I could not raise sufficient interest to watch tonight's game. Went out for an exquisite meal instead in great company, called in on a live rock gig on the way back. Overall a wonderful night  of entertainment.
Thanks Gareth. You have killed my interest with your negative crab football. Sideways  sideways, back to the keeper, pedestrian football.
I watch to be entertained. I'm there for the thrills, the excitement, a racing pulse, heart in the mouth moments. A spawny win is no longer enough to captivate my interest. Goalless draws against teams who are making up the numbers don't do it for me. The thrill is gone. Dull is dull however you dress it up.
To those who think GS walks on water, enjoy it. Ditto those who want victory at any cost.
I've reached a time in my life when class matters. 90 minutes watching the mundane is 90 minutes I can no longer spare. Life is short.
Good luck to England but those loyal supporters deserve better. I've been lucky to watch some great sides from the Brazilians of the 1970s onwards, the Dutch, Germans, Italians, French, Belgium, etc.
In comparison we are not worthy.
It's not being disloyal. It is genuinely how I feel. You go ahead. Fill your boots. If this football enthuses or inspires you, so be it. But don't expect everyone to agree with you. The real world isn't like that.

How much is the Man City season ticket?

[NickDRFC]

I could not raise sufficient interest to watch tonight's game. Went out for an exquisite meal instead in great company, called in on a live rock gig on the way back. Overall a wonderful night  of entertainment.
Thanks Gareth. You have killed my interest with your negative crab football. Sideways  sideways, back to the keeper, pedestrian football.
I watch to be entertained. I'm there for the thrills, the excitement, a racing pulse, heart in the mouth moments. A spawny win is no longer enough to captivate my interest. Goalless draws against teams who are making up the numbers don't do it for me. The thrill is gone. Dull is dull however you dress it up.
To those who think GS walks on water, enjoy it. Ditto those who want victory at any cost.
I've reached a time in my life when class matters. 90 minutes watching the mundane is 90 minutes I can no longer spare. Life is short.
Good luck to England but those loyal supporters deserve better. I've been lucky to watch some great sides from the Brazilians of the 1970s onwards, the Dutch, Germans, Italians, French, Belgium, etc.
In comparison we are not worthy.
It's not being disloyal. It is genuinely how I feel. You go ahead. Fill your boots. If this football enthuses or inspires you, so be it. But don't expect everyone to agree with you. The real world isn't like that.

I don’t think anyone thinks GS walks on water or is enthused by the football. But if you missed that equaliser or shootout win today then I feel sorry for you. Penalty defeats are excruciating but the victories are euphoric.

[Jonathan]

Southgate has been a very very good international manager. During his tenure we have a tournament record that ought to be the envy of almost every other nation. Yet so many of our fans, almost all of whom have been starved of success for nearly all of their adult lives, just want to criticise and moan. For what it’s worth I do get that it’s not been great to watch, and I think after this tournament it’s time to freshen things up, but Southgate has done such a great job of guiding us through tournaments and to see him described as useless and clueless is beyond laughable. Who do we think we are? Every country wants to win and we are one of very few that keep on putting ourselves in the position to do so, despite only ever having won a major tournament once. He’s doing something right, it’s not just luck. It just feels a bit safe and over cautious, but it’s been effective. It’s like the Labour Party isn’t it.

[graingrover]

I agree all of that except the last line .The opposition at Euros is not as bad as that facing Labour .

[dickos1]

I see many are still fighting to be as negative as possible, we’re in a semi final for gods sake.
We played well last night against a side that many on here said would be better than us. They weren’t!
Even if we win the tournament there’ll be lots of people slagging Southgate off just because they can’t admit they were wrong,
His tournament record is astounding when you think of what happened before he arrived.

[sf9944]

I could not raise sufficient interest to watch tonight's game. Went out for an exquisite meal instead in great company, called in on a live rock gig on the way back. Overall a wonderful night  of entertainment.
Thanks Gareth. You have killed my interest with your negative crab football. Sideways  sideways, back to the keeper, pedestrian football.
I watch to be entertained. I'm there for the thrills, the excitement, a racing pulse, heart in the mouth moments. A spawny win is no longer enough to captivate my interest. Goalless draws against teams who are making up the numbers don't do it for me. The thrill is gone. Dull is dull however you dress it up.
To those who think GS walks on water, enjoy it. Ditto those who want victory at any cost.
I've reached a time in my life when class matters. 90 minutes watching the mundane is 90 minutes I can no longer spare. Life is short.
Good luck to England but those loyal supporters deserve better. I've been lucky to watch some great sides from the Brazilians of the 1970s onwards, the Dutch, Germans, Italians, French, Belgium, etc.
In comparison we are not worthy.
It's not being disloyal. It is genuinely how I feel. You go ahead. Fill your boots. If this football enthuses or inspires you, so be it. But don't expect everyone to agree with you. The real world isn't like that.

Of course.  Each to their own. Glad you had a good night. 

I don't expect everyone to agree - if entertainment is more important to you than winning that's your prerogative.  I think you are in a minority there. But neither do I expect people to be disrespectful or downright abusive to Southgate.  He is a brilliant leader who has managed to create an unbelievable team spirit - no cliques, good values etc.  He is employed to get us through tournaments and has been very successful at that.  I hope he finishes the job this time not least because he bloody deserves it.

If he does he won't be disrespectful to the people who have been disrespectful to him. He has more class than that.

[sf9944]

Southgate has been a very very good international manager. During his tenure we have a tournament record that ought to be the envy of almost every other nation. Yet so many of our fans, almost all of whom have been starved of success for nearly all of their adult lives, just want to criticise and moan. For what it’s worth I do get that it’s not been great to watch, and I think after this tournament it’s time to freshen things up, but Southgate has done such a great job of guiding us through tournaments and to see him described as useless and clueless is beyond laughable. Who do we think we are? Every country wants to win and we are one of very few that keep on putting ourselves in the position to do so, despite only ever having won a major tournament once. He’s doing something right, it’s not just luck. It just feels a bit safe and over cautious, but it’s been effective. It’s like the Labour Party isn’t it.

Couldn't agree more

[Padge_DRFC]

The way Switzerland set up was never going to make this a classic. Fair play it nearly worked for them. I think if you have a go at our defence you'll get joy.

Pickford again. Best GK since Seaman for me. Our bizarre brainless fans decided to call him a w**ker all game and tell him he lets his country down when we played Everton though for some reason.

[Bentley Bullet]

Just for the record.....

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

England are very well organised, it's not the most exciting at times but Southgate rather than try and have a load of attacking freedom has set the team up well organised and hope the big players perform.

So far there is no denying it is working just about.  Do we wan to watch end to end football or do we want to get results? For England it's results, if it was rovers more excitement but in a knock out tournament he just now needs two wins and he's done it.

[Campsall rover]

Netherlands it is in the Semi Final

Hopefully we will win & it will be an entertaining game.
Both would be a bonus.

Camps, mate.
Which is more important to you:
Play really well, be entertaining but lose the game, or Not play really well, but do enough to win.

The latter hound. Obviously I want us to win.
Last night was much better than previous games. Maybe i am looking for perfection. There is no such thing.

Let’s face it if Rovers were winning with so few attempts at goal we would all be saying we were lucky and it won’t last. We will have to improve performances to keep winning.

Yes if we can win ugly that’s a great trait to have. When we do click as a team we will be a very dangerous outfit.

Credit to Southgate where it’s due. The team spirit in the camp is fantastic. There is a real togetherness.
GS is a great man manager that comes through very clearly.
Where he falls down for me is his tactical nous during a game. He is not re active enough.
If he had made those subs at 60 mins we may have well won that game in normal time.
We will never know of course.

Onwards and upwards.  My gut feeling is this is our year. It seems the stars ar aligned.
If we do win it I promise not to say anything negative about GS again. Well not at least until the next World Cup 
Assuming he carries on as Manager.

[sf9944]

Netherlands it is in the Semi Final

Hopefully we will win & it will be an entertaining game.
Both would be a bonus.

Camps, mate.
Which is more important to you:
Play really well, be entertaining but lose the game, or Not play really well, but do enough to win.

The latter hound. Obviously I want us to win.
Last night was much better than previous games. Maybe i am looking for perfection. There is no such thing.

Let’s face it if Rovers were winning with so few attempts at goal we would all be saying we were lucky and it won’t last. We will have to improve performances to keep winning.

Yes if we can win ugly that’s a great trait to have. When we do click as a team we will be a very dangerous outfit.

Credit to Southgate where it’s due. The team spirit in the camp is fantastic. There is a real togetherness.
GS is a great man manager that comes through very clearly.
Where he falls down for me is his tactical nous during a game. He is not re active enough.
If he had made those subs at 60 mins we may have well won that game in normal time.
We will never know of course.

Onwards and upwards.  My gut feeling is this is our year. It seems the stars ar aligned.
If we do win it I promise not to say anything negative about GS again. Well not at least until the next World Cup 
Assuming he carries on as Manager.

I understand your points about GS tactical nous.  However those things he does that seem wrong - like Trippier on the left side of defence for example. I'm sure he has reasons for these things that are not immediately obvious.  They are part of a bigger web of tactical decisions that will make perfect sense to him even while looking ridiculous to us.  I just think we should trust that he has a better idea of what is for the best than we do.  And I think he has earned that trust.

[tyke1962]

This is a really weird tournament for me personally involving England .

Previously as we've progressed I'm completely consumed by us and the desire to actually win a major tournament is just too much at times .

I've cried like a baby , notably Italia 90 and Euro 96 when we cruelly went out , I was stunned in the final against Italy , the disappointment was immense .

During the world cup semi final against Croatia my hands were actually shaking , it was all too much to bear .

None of these things are inside my soul during this tournament , I'm yet to so much as punch the air when we've scored despite the obvious drama so far .

The football is turgid , boring and unexciting despite having some of the most talented players in European football representing us .

All the emotion that previously existed inside my soul has been eradicated just watching our performances .

Yet here we are with once again a major tournament win in sight .

I'd love to feel like I have done previously , I want us to win that trophy , the boost to the country would be immense and my word we need all the good news we can get right now .

Maybe the semi final will reignite me , I want to us to win the bloody thing but i want to be emotionally invested as I have been previously .

We've grinded it out  so far , a bit of exciting football would be nice .

Please .

[GazLaz]

His record in tournaments is undeniable but he’s has been extremely fortunate with some of the draws.

[Padge_DRFC]

His record in tournaments is undeniable but he’s has been extremely fortunate with some of the draws.

And the best players available to him since Sven's squads.

[Campsall rover]

Netherlands it is in the Semi Final

Hopefully we will win & it will be an entertaining game.
Both would be a bonus.

Camps, mate.
Which is more important to you:
Play really well, be entertaining but lose the game, or Not play really well, but do enough to win.

The latter hound. Obviously I want us to win.
Last night was much better than previous games. Maybe i am looking for perfection. There is no such thing.

Let’s face it if Rovers were winning with so few attempts at goal we would all be saying we were lucky and it won’t last. We will have to improve performances to keep winning.

Yes if we can win ugly that’s a great trait to have. When we do click as a team we will be a very dangerous outfit.

Credit to Southgate where it’s due. The team spirit in the camp is fantastic. There is a real togetherness.
GS is a great man manager that comes through very clearly.
Where he falls down for me is his tactical nous during a game. He is not re active enough.
If he had made those subs at 60 mins we may have well won that game in normal time.
We will never know of course.

Onwards and upwards.  My gut feeling is this is our year. It seems the stars ar aligned.
If we do win it I promise not to say anything negative about GS again. Well not at least until the next World Cup 
Assuming he carries on as Manager.

I understand your points about GS tactical nous.  However those things he does that seem wrong - like Trippier on the left side of defence for example. I'm sure he has reasons for these things that are not immediately obvious.  They are part of a bigger web of tactical decisions that will make perfect sense to him even while looking ridiculous to us.  I just think we should trust that he has a better idea of what is for the best than we do.  And I think he has earned that trust.

It’s not just us supporters though is it.
All the pundits on TV are saying the same as well. They are nearly all ex top international footballers.
Yes maybe they never won anything at international level but you have to respect their knowledge.

You mention Trippier. He played more as a winger than a full back ( wing back )  but he was totally ineffective in that position as a right footer. He had very little defending to do so could not Gordon have played that role.

When the subs eventually came on at 1-0 down he put Shaw at left centre back not wing back. Eieze went to wing back and spent more time defending than attacking. He is also right footed isn’t he?
GS could have put Gomes on as Left CB and put Shaw at wing back.
It didn’t make any sense at all.  Does he not want us to be a balanced team and play with real width on both sides of the pitch?

I assume Konsa went off due to injury, it was never mentioned or at least if it was I missed it. I know he got a knock and needed treatment.
I assume it must have been injury and not tactical as I thought he had a great game and along with Saka was our best player.

I am totally baffled by Southgate’s tactics. If he wins this Euro’s then I will hold my hands up and admit he is a tactical genius and had us all fooled.
I have a feeling he will have the last laugh and i along with millions of others will have egg on our face.
I sincerely hope that is the case.

[Filo]

The emergence of Guehi, Konsa and Eze have been a massive plus, we just need to find a LB/LWB to cover Shaw now

[Avsuptem]

Yes there seems to be a bit of Martinez syndrome with Southgate in declining to substitute Kane when it was obvious he was ineffective. The crashing into the hordings and apparent injury looked like a godsent excuse to replace him for both manager and player.

[DonnyNoel]

His record in tournaments is undeniable but he’s has been extremely fortunate with some of the draws.

2018 I'll accept was a bit luck as we got a better draw by finishing second in the group than if we'd have won it. As I've said earlier on the thread we keep saying that because we're facing "TLO" Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Colombia in the knock out stages because in some cases better teams have been knocked out, but by reversing that logic, we've done beetter than these teams have as we haven't been knocked out by one of these nations or even in the goup stage. Lots of nations look very well organised with clear game plans and are a lot more of a threat than they were 10+ years ago.

[StocksArmy]

There was a good period in the 2nd half where we were flat and we were asking for trouble. But there were a lot of positives to take from the game. I thought the first half we were brilliant and the commentator was talking tripe when the HT whistle blew. I don’t get people who look at the shots on/off target stats. For me cutting through a team and getting in behind is a chance and we were doing that. We just have to be more ruthless on Wednesday and score first.

[EasyforDennis]

This is a really weird tournament for me personally involving England .

Previously as we've progressed I'm completely consumed by us and the desire to actually win a major tournament is just too much at times .

I've cried like a baby , notably Italia 90 and Euro 96 when we cruelly went out , I was stunned in the final against Italy , the disappointment was immense .

During the world cup semi final against Croatia my hands were actually shaking , it was all too much to bear .

None of these things are inside my soul during this tournament , I'm yet to so much as punch the air when we've scored despite the obvious drama so far .

The football is turgid , boring and unexciting despite having some of the most talented players in European football representing us .

All the emotion that previously existed inside my soul has been eradicated just watching our performances .

Yet here we are with once again a major tournament win in sight .

I'd love to feel like I have done previously , I want us to win that trophy , the boost to the country would be immense and my word we need all the good news we can get right now .

Maybe the semi final will reignite me , I want to us to win the bloody thing but i want to be emotionally invested as I have been previously .

We've grinded it out  so far , a bit of exciting football would be nice .

Please .

I 100% agree on all of that Tyke. We have some excellent players and I do believe we will win this competition in spite of having GS as manager and not because of him being in charge.

I'm sure you will feel a lot happier after the win and a few pints int taaarn.

[drfchound]

There are probably about 40 million football fans who think they know better than Southgate and fancy themselves to be more tactically aware than him.

[danumdon]

Its wrong to slate Southgate, as an England manager he's reached a level few other more vaunted manager ever did, he deserves praise for that. It would be nice to finally go all the way, he's been close a couple of times now, when you look back he was in a position to win both times (Euros, World Cup)but it looked like the pragmatism and risk averse nature that had got him there finally proved his downfall.

This tournament like the others mentioned is following the same pattern, if he gets us all the way and wins the thing then great.

Im thinking along the same lines as what others have already pointed out, we may win this thing but in the process its killed our enthusiasm of football stone dead with these soulless and joyless displays, if this is our ultimate aim then great, they will come home to a feeling of nothingness and indifference.

Every tournament of his tenure has resulted in me more and more not caring one jot for the spectical, if this is success in football then great, but count me out, i've got better things to do to occupy the time.

[EasyforDennis]

There are probably about 40 million football fans who think they know better than Southgate and fancy themselves to be more tactically aware than him.

And 30 million of them are probably correct.

[silent majority]

In 2004 we were the best team and should have won the Euros at a canter. Wayne Rooney was the star of the show.

We went out on penalties to Portugal at the first knock out stage. Greece, who were the most negative team in the tournament went on to win it.

Its an odd world.

[drfchound]

There are probably about 40 million football fans who think they know better than Southgate and fancy themselves to be more tactically aware than him.

And 30 million of them are probably correct.

We really do need a tongue in cheek emoji don’t we E4D.

[drfchound]

In 2004 we were the best team and should have won the Euros at a canter. Wayne Rooney was the star of the show.

We went out on penalties to Portugal at the first knock out stage. Greece, who were the most negative team in the tournament went on to win it.

Its an odd world.

We were over in Portugal for the group games in 2004 and also went to the Greece v Russia match in Malaga.
Greece were awful and lost the match 2-1 and we thought they wouldn’t get out of the group.
Hard to believe they won the trophy.

[drfchound]

Its wrong to slate Southgate, as an England manager he's reached a level few other more vaunted manager ever did, he deserves praise for that. It would be nice to finally go all the way, he's been close a couple of times now, when you look back he was in a position to win both times (Euros, World Cup)but it looked like the pragmatism and risk averse nature that had got him there finally proved his downfall.

This tournament like the others mentioned is following the same pattern, if he gets us all the way and wins the thing then great.

Im thinking along the same lines as what others have already pointed out, we may win this thing but in the process its killed our enthusiasm of football stone dead with these soulless and joyless displays, if this is our ultimate aim then great, they will come home to a feeling of nothingness and indifference.

Every tournament of his tenure has resulted in me more and more not caring one jot for the spectical, if this is success in football then great, but count me out, i've got better things to do to occupy the time.

Obviously at times we have struggled to ignite the games but we have, more often than not, been in control of them.
We all would like the team to play expansive and exciting  football but I keep seeing the teams doing that getting knocked out of the competition.
Im not having my enthusiasm killed off at all because we keep progressing.
Some people have been comparing Southgates football to that of Danny Schofield but the main difference is that Rovers results were terrible.
Tournament football is all about winning and England are doing that.